Europe’s Morning MoneyBeat: It’s Still All About the Fed

It’s eerily quiet out there. The mainboards in Europe are opening weaker Tuesday, with stock markets all over the world still in thrall to the latest investor take on the durability of stimulus from the Federal Reserve.

Alpari U.K. expects the FTSE 100 to open down four points, the CAC40 down eleven and the DAX down 21.

On the data slate Germany’s ZEW survey will dominate the European side, while, in the U.S., consumer price index data and housing starts are due.

In London, The Wall Street Journal reported late Monday that prosecutors plan to file criminal fraud charges against former UBS and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes for allegedly trying to manipulate benchmark interest rates, representing the first efforts by British authorities to seek criminal penalties for Libor-related matters.

Meanwhile Germany’s biggest cable operator Kabel Deutschland Holding confirmed it has received a proposal to be acquired by Liberty Global, potentially creating a bidding feud between John Malone’s international cable company and Vodafone Group.

By David Cottle.

What You May Have Missed From MoneyBeat:

Former Barclays Australia CEO Whelan to Join Telstra: The former chief executive of Barclays PLC’s Australian unit, Cynthia Whelan, is joining telecommunications company Telstra Corp. Ltd. as head of strategic finance, a person with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.

U.K. Readies Fresh Libor Charges: Prosecutors plan to file criminal fraud charges against a former trader alleged to be at the center of plans hatched at various banks to manipulate interest rates, according to a person familiar with the situation.

China Banks Press PBOC to Ease Crunch: China’s big banks are urging the central bank to free up funds to ease an unusual cash squeeze, as Beijing faces a stark choice: add money to the financial system to help lenders, or stay the course to rein in a rapid expansion of credit.

Smithfield to Review Starboard Letter Urging Breakup: Smithfield Foods Inc. said it will review a letter from a major investor that is pressuring the pork producer to explore a breakup instead of following through with its planned takeover by a Chinese meat producer, but said it continues to believe the proposed merger is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.